What is the future? congestion pricing in New York City what it might look like — and how much it might cost drivers — could be revealed soon, as the governor is expected to make an announcement Thursday about the controversial plan.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who put the plan on “pause” in June just weeks before it was set to take effect, will address a path forward on how to fund the MTA, according to a spokeswoman. Hochul suspended the plan because “a daily fee of $15 was too high for hard-working New Yorkers in this economic climate,” the spokesman said.

Thursday’s announcement will detail plans to “fund mass transit, unblock our streets and improve public health by reducing air pollution,” the spokesperson told NBC New York.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander appeared to confirm the rollback of Wednesday’s Plan X post.@GovKathyHochul will lift the pause on the implementation of congestion pricing!”

Thank you @GovKathyHochul and the @MTA for the end of the break and I look forward to signing the charging agreement with the federal government to ensure that the system is implemented before January 20.

A fee that starts at $9 and gradually increases over time can bring in enough revenue to…

— New York City Comptroller’s Office Brad Lander (@NYCComptroller) November 14, 2024

Hochul’s announcement is expected to come at 12pm on Thursday.

How much could the price of congestion cost?

The new price that has been proposed for the congestion charge is $9. Supporters of the plan indicated they would be willing to negotiate how much the tax would cost, as long as it meant the plan got off the ground.

“There’s certainly not much time, the urgency has never been greater,” said Sara Lind, executive director of the nonprofit Open Plans. “We think $15 is the right fee, but if $9 is going to get it up and running, let’s stop this and get started.”

The advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, a proponent of congestion pricing, hailed it as a way to bring “safer streets, cleaner air, faster buses and billions in public transit funding” to New York City , declaring it “essential” to start the program. as soon as possible.

The governor also has the support of Lander, as well as Mayor Eric Adams, who said he is “with the governor on congestion pricing.” However, Adams called for new exemptions for first responders and transit workers.

The controversial congestion pricing plan for drivers entering Manhattan was scrapped in June. But Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday that because of the election, she is considering lifting that break. NBC New York’s Andrew Siff reports.

But the opponents are as firmly against it as ever. A number of local lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats alike, criticized the controversial balance sheet as a cash grab.

Governor Hochul’s congestion pricing scheme is nothing more than a massive new tax on working families, commuters, students and local residents who just want to travel to the city they call home,” Congressman Mike Lawler said in a statement .this plan amounts to legalized theft by a governor and a state government that is out of control and out of touch with ordinary New Yorkers.”

“There’s no way we’re going to let you go forward with congestion pricing without a fight,” Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis said earlier this week.

“In a time of inflation, New York’s attempt to hit Jersey families with another tax is absolutely absurd. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let the MTA balance its mismanaged and out-of-control budget at the expense of Jersey taxpayers,” said New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat. “We stopped the congestion charge once and we’re going to stop it again. The game goes on.”

Hoch had not previously said when congestion pricing would be phased out, but said an MTA funding formula would be in place by the end of 2024.

How does congestion pricing work?

Congestion pricing would impact any driver entering what is called the Central Business District (CBD), which stretches from 60th Street in Manhattan and below to the southern tip of the Financial District. In other words, most drivers entering midtown Manhattan or below will have to pay the toll, according to the council’s report.

All drivers of cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles would have to pay the tax. Different vehicles will be charged different amounts – here’s a breakdown of the prices proposed by the original plan:

• Passenger vehicles: $15
• Small trucks (such as box trucks, moving vans, etc.): $24
• Large trucks: $36
• Motorcycles: $7.50

The $15 fee is about a midpoint between previously reported possibilities, which ranged from $9 to $23.

Full, daytime rates would be in effect from 5am to 9pm every weekday and from 9am to 9pm on weekends. The council called for out-of-hours toll rates (9pm to 5am weekdays and 9pm to 9am weekends) to be around 75% lower – around 3, $50 instead of $15 for a passenger vehicle.

Drivers would only be charged for entering the zone, not for leaving or staying in it. That means residents who drive into the CBD and circle their block to look for parking will not be charged.

There will only be one charge per day – so anyone who enters the area, then leaves and returns, will still only be charged once for that day.

The review board said the implementation of their congestion pricing plan is expected to reduce the number of vehicles entering the area by 17%. That would equate to 153,000 fewer cars in that large part of Manhattan. They also predicted the plan would generate $15 billion, an influx of cash that could be used to upgrade subways and buses.

Here’s a full breakdown of the MTA’s congestion pricing plan.

All 110 of the MTA’s toll readers are in place and ready to go.

A new report from the State Comptroller found that the MTA is in big trouble if the agency doesn’t get the money expected from congestion pricing. On Wednesday, Governor Hochul said an announcement on a reduction in congestion pricing would come before the end of this year. NBC New York’s Andrew Siff reports.

For some questions, the MTA has a FAQ page so drivers can ask more specific questions they may have. For example, can I cross the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan and go north on the FDR Drive without being tolled?

For other questions, such as who is exempt and how to apply for an exemption, continue reading below:

Who is exempt from congestion pricing?

The transit authority opened the application process in April for those groups and individuals who want to be exempt from paying each time they enter Manhattan at or below 60th Street.

As the MTA has previously said, most of the cars likely to receive a full toll exemption will be government vehicles. MTA officials said essentially all yellow school buses are clear — that applies to New York City public schools, charter and Catholic schools, as well as private schools.

As long as the bus company has a contract with the Department of Education, they expect to be exempt.

The list also includes vehicles owned by NYC fleets. The MTA has already stated that emergency vehicles will be exempt, but so will virtually any official city-owned car. Between the dozens of agencies, there are potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of cars that will qualify.

A third group, commuter buses, will also make the list. MTA officials said any bus with scheduled service where the public can purchase tickets will be exempt, including the Hampton Jitney, Greyhound, Mega Bus and Flix Bus.

Other charter buses, NY Waterway buses, and NYU employee shuttles would not be exempt.

Click here for the full list of MTA exemptions.

Are there lower rates available for some drivers?

Yes, some drivers will be eligible for a reduced rate.

The MTA said New Yorkers with lower incomes can apply to pay a waiver that allows them to pay half tolls.

Low-income drivers who earn less than $50,000 a year can apply to pay half the price of the day tax, but only after the first 10 trips in a month.

Congestion pricing is on hiatus for now, but on Long Island, some fed-up politicians are now forcing New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to abandon it entirely. NBC New York’s Carolyn Manno reports.

Is there any other way to get a discount?

Many groups hoped to get exemptions, but very few will avoid paying the full tax. This small group is limited to specialized government vehicles (such as snow plows) and emergency vehicles.

Although not an exemption, there will also be so-called “pass credits” for drivers using any of the four tunnels to enter Manhattan. That means those who already pay at the Lincoln or Holland Tunnel, for example, won’t pay the full congestion charge. The credit amounts to $5 per ride for passenger vehicles, $2.50 for motorcycles, $12 for small trucks and $20 for large trucks.

Long Island and Queens drivers using the Queens-Midtown Tunnel will get the same break as those using the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. However, those crossing the George Washington Bridge and going south of 60th Street would see no such reduction.

Public sector employees (teachers, police, firefighters, transit workers, etc.), those who live in the so-called CBD, utility companies, those with medical appointments in the area, and those who drive electric vehicles all hoped to get they are granted an exemption. They did it not take one

What about taxis and rideshares?

There will be exemptions for cabs and taxis, but to their chagrin, they won’t get off completely scot-free.

The tax will not be in effect for taxis, but drivers will be charged a surcharge of $1.25 per ride. The same policy applies to Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing drivers, but their surcharge will be $2.50.

New York Taxi Workers Alliance executive director Bhairavi Desai said in a statement that the plan is “a reckless proposal that will devastate an entire workforce.”